As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday, 24 January 2016

How bird hunters turned to wildlife conservation

THATTA: Amid the ruthless hunting that goes on unabated in and around the Keenjhar lake –– a major wintering ground for a wide array of waterfowl –– some birds have found a sanctuary where they can fly, search for food and nest without any fear of being hunted by humans. This is all thanks to a group of local hunters who have decided to dedicate their lives to wildlife conservation.

Part of this team is Kamal Khan Palari, a farmer and resident of Nabi Bux Palari village in the Jhimpir union council of Thatta district. His village is one of the five settlements where a no-hunting zone has been active for the past six years.

“I wake up early morning by the chirping of these beautiful birds that we had almost lost. I can’t imagine losing their sights and sounds again,” he shared, showing a strong sense of affection towards the birds.

Initially developed with the help of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) under a one-year project in 2010, the no-hunting zone is very much in place with the support of different communities.